I am looking for help for my first section 8 property

Out of State Investing
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I am looking for help for my first section 8 property

Preston Taylor
Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 6 votes

Good morning/afternoon, 

My business partners and I are looking to leave Airbnb and go into section 8, we loved arbitrage to build some wealth but we would like to start building equity and do something that helps people. We are looking into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Ohio at the moment; doing our best to stay away from natural disasters or other issues that could affect insurance and other subsidiary expenses.

We would love some advice, either by replying to this post or willing to hop on a call. We also were looking into how people go about, insurance, home warranty, property management, inspectors, and small project renovation that goes into a deal like this.

Thank you in advance and I hope you guys have a good day.

4Reply
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Jimmy LieuBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
1y
Quote from @Preston Taylor:

Good morning/afternoon, 

My business partners and I are looking to leave Airbnb and go into section 8, we loved arbitrage to build some wealth but we would like to start building equity and do something that helps people. We are looking into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Ohio at the moment; doing our best to stay away from natural disasters or other issues that could affect insurance and other subsidiary expenses.

We would love some advice, either by replying to this post or willing to hop on a call. We also were looking into how people go about, insurance, home warranty, property management, inspectors, and small project renovation that goes into a deal like this.

Thank you in advance and I hope you guys have a good day.

Welcome to BP, Preston! Love the mindset shift you and your partners are making—moving from arbitrage to ownership is a big step, and Section 8 can definitely provide stable cash flow while helping people out. Since Ohio is on your radar, I’d highly recommend checking out Columbus. I moved here from Portland back in 2020 to invest and now own 10+ rentals in the area, including some Section 8. The rental demand here is super strong and Columbus is growing fast—Intel is building a $26B chip plant nearby, plus Amazon, Google, Honda, Anduril, and more are investing heavily here, which means jobs and people needing housing. You can still find properties in the $120-180K range that cash flow well, and the city is pretty landlord-friendly which makes Section 8 easier to navigate. For insurance, it’s straightforward here without crazy premiums since we’re not dealing with the natural disasters you’re trying to avoid. I’d suggest finding a good local property manager familiar with Section 8 because navigating inspections and requirements is much easier with someone experienced. Same goes for reliable inspectors and contractors for light reno work—having a solid local team makes all the difference, especially from out of state. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

[email protected]614-300-7535
Jimmy Lieu, Red 1 Realty4.9120 Reviews
WebsiteView Page
3Reply
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  • James McGovern
    Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 408 votes
    1y

    Section 8 is most popular in the northeast 

    0Reply
  • Jimmy LieuBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @Preston Taylor:

    Good morning/afternoon, 

    My business partners and I are looking to leave Airbnb and go into section 8, we loved arbitrage to build some wealth but we would like to start building equity and do something that helps people. We are looking into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Ohio at the moment; doing our best to stay away from natural disasters or other issues that could affect insurance and other subsidiary expenses.

    We would love some advice, either by replying to this post or willing to hop on a call. We also were looking into how people go about, insurance, home warranty, property management, inspectors, and small project renovation that goes into a deal like this.

    Thank you in advance and I hope you guys have a good day.

    Welcome to BP, Preston! Love the mindset shift you and your partners are making—moving from arbitrage to ownership is a big step, and Section 8 can definitely provide stable cash flow while helping people out. Since Ohio is on your radar, I’d highly recommend checking out Columbus. I moved here from Portland back in 2020 to invest and now own 10+ rentals in the area, including some Section 8. The rental demand here is super strong and Columbus is growing fast—Intel is building a $26B chip plant nearby, plus Amazon, Google, Honda, Anduril, and more are investing heavily here, which means jobs and people needing housing. You can still find properties in the $120-180K range that cash flow well, and the city is pretty landlord-friendly which makes Section 8 easier to navigate. For insurance, it’s straightforward here without crazy premiums since we’re not dealing with the natural disasters you’re trying to avoid. I’d suggest finding a good local property manager familiar with Section 8 because navigating inspections and requirements is much easier with someone experienced. Same goes for reliable inspectors and contractors for light reno work—having a solid local team makes all the difference, especially from out of state. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

    [email protected]614-300-7535
    Jimmy Lieu, Red 1 Realty4.9120 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    3Reply
  • Patrick DruryBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH & Cleveland OH · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    @Preston Taylor
    I would work on figuring out where you are looking to invest in Ohio, then people can provide recommendations for each of the items you are looking for. If you find an investor-friendly agent in that market, they can help with providing 

    -Insurance referral
    -PM referrals 
    -Home inspector referrals 
    -Contractors 

    [email protected]614-412-4565
    Reafco-555 Reviews
    View Page
    2Reply
  • Madison Robertson
    Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia · Member since 2024 · 8 posts · 4 votes
    1y

    Hi Preston,

    If you're open to considering another market, I’d highly recommend Philadelphia. There’s strong demand for rentals, especially in the Section 8 space, and prices are still accessible with many properties under $250K. Insurance costs are also very manageable since we don’t deal with hurricanes or major natural disasters. Let me know if you want to chat!

    1Reply
  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    1y

    @Preston Taylor we're not in any of those markets (Metro Detroit only), so we have nothing to sell you.

    DM us and we'll spend 30 minutes answering your questions:)

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9451 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Arman AhmedPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 912 votes
    1y

    @Preston Taylor

    Great to see you and your partners making the shift from Airbnb to Section 8 — that’s a smart move for long-term stability and impact. Ohio has been a strong choice for many investors I’ve worked with who are focused on cash flow and tenant-based housing programs. Cities like Columbus, Dayton, and Cleveland offer solid rental demand, relatively low acquisition costs, and less exposure to the natural disaster risks you mentioned.

    When it comes to Section 8:

    • Reliable property management is key — especially those who already work with housing authorities.
    • Many local inspectors and small renovation crews are familiar with the inspection standards, which helps streamline turnarounds.
    • Insurance is generally affordable here, and adding a home warranty can offer peace of mind on older systems.

    Happy to share more about what’s worked for others in this space — and wishing you the best as you move into this next phase!

    [email protected]614-418-6081
    1Reply
  • Myka Artis
    Rental Property Investor · Arlington, TX · Member since 2016 · 706 posts · 611 votes
    1y

    Hello Preston!

    I'm happy you leaped out of arbitrage! I engaged in arbitrage and now focus on STR/MTR, Section 8, and property management. I do Section 8 in Arkansas, right next door to Tennessee. As far as insurance goes, there's nothing special here. I use a typical rental-grade insurance policy. I have just purchased a home warranty for my Section 8 rental due to a pipe issue. I was able to get it fixed, but it wasn't necessarily necessary. I self-manage because I own my own STR/MTR company, which I utilize for this purpose, and my Section 8 rental was a full BRRRR, so everything was brand new that I put into it.

    In Arkansas, you are required to provide appliances such as a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, etc. We wanted to stand out and attract better clients, so we also provided them with a washer and dryer. 

    I have been loving my Section 8 tenant, and she has been great. The only thing that I would say about Section 8 is that I do prefer to have older tenants. It's discriminatory to reject off-age, but you can interview enough people to get a solid foundation of the right renter for you. 

    2Reply
  • Kerlous TadresBusiness Member
    Realtor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @Preston Taylor:

    Good morning/afternoon, 

    My business partners and I are looking to leave Airbnb and go into section 8, we loved arbitrage to build some wealth but we would like to start building equity and do something that helps people. We are looking into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Ohio at the moment; doing our best to stay away from natural disasters or other issues that could affect insurance and other subsidiary expenses.

    We would love some advice, either by replying to this post or willing to hop on a call. We also were looking into how people go about, insurance, home warranty, property management, inspectors, and small project renovation that goes into a deal like this.

    Thank you in advance and I hope you guys have a good day.


    Hey Preston, welcome to BP! The biggest piece of advice is to connect with other investor-friendly realtors to help you build your team and guide you through the process of your first investments 

    [email protected]614-490-1163
    Kerlous Tadres | Reafco Real Estate539 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
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